Anyway, this is exactly what I expected when they pushed W10 so hard to the point of giving it for "free": removing choice from their customers and trying to "mobilize" (as in: closing it like a mobile phone OS') the PC enviroment.
And it is exactly why I'm staying with 8.1 with Classic Shell.

Neo Member

This is pricing for partners and as mentioned, Windows 10 Home S can be upgraded to Home without the store restriction for free. Only Pro S will require an additional fee, which you won't see on a standard desktop or laptop you might buy from a store.

Windows 10 is always evolving. It will certainly be interesting to see what it becomes. Although, at the moment I don't think this necessarily impacts the consumer negatively.

Member

Regardless of this article, it's a shame about Valve's pathetic attempts with Steam OS. Going through all the effort of creating it, then just seemingly back-tracking on the whole idea (pay off or threat from MS?) and sending it out to die.

Member

Google and Apple haven't been called out on that, though. Microsoft were wrecked pretty hard by the EU for it and that's why every copy of Windows in the EU would boot up with a selection screen of internet browsers. Microsoft's Internet Explorer was still default and pre-installed, but you were informed that other browsers exist and given a download link to get them, if you chose to.

I should note that's no longer the case. You get a copy of Windows in the EU now and you're back to Microsoft's choice.

Member

You might wanna contextualize the thread with some info past "omg guys MS is being evil" OP. Like adding some details on how exactly MS is being evil to the opening post, for example.

The most offensive thing I see here is limiting the amount of Win32 apps you can pin to the desktop or start menu. It'll probably be fixable with a registry change, but that shit is ridiculous. Reeks of websites hobbling themselves in an attempt to push you into downloading their app.

As far as the browser stuff goes, W10 already whines at you to 'give Edge a chance' when you try to set the default to something else, so that bridge is long since crossed and burned.

Member

Google and Apple haven't been called out on that, though. Microsoft were wrecked pretty hard by the EU for it and that's why every copy of Windows in the EU would boot up with a selection screen of internet browsers. Microsoft's Internet Explorer was still default and pre-installed, but you were informed that other browsers exist and given a download link to get them, if you chose to.

I should note that's no longer the case. You get a copy of Windows in the EU now and you're back to Microsoft's choice.

Yes, so the situation has changed since google, ios and Microsoft are not hit by this anymore.
So if people are going to call out Microsoft for this unless there being biased they should call out apple and google to.

One of the irritating things about Win10 is how much of a pain it is to change default apps. Install something like IrfanView, where it asks you if you want to set it as the default application for image files and after the installation is complete, Windows 10 decides you must have done that in error or at the barrel of a gun and switches back to Windows Photo Viewer. You have to go into the settings and force it to switch back again. Ugh.

Member

Not on the desktop. Microsoft has a significant monopolistic position on desktop computers. Which is why they get into regulatory issues when trying to leverage that monopoly to other areas and Apple, for instance, doesn't.

Member

One of the irritating things about Win10 is how much of a pain it is to change default apps. Install something like IrfanView, where it asks you if you want to set it as the default application for image files and after the installation is complete, Windows 10 decides you must have done that in error or at the barrel of a gun and switches back to Windows Photo Viewer. You have to go into the settings and force it to switch back again. Ugh.

Huh, I've never had that problem with any of my Windows 10 installs. I tell it to use IrfanView (or plenty of other programs) and it just works that way.

I don't see any reason to get worried about the 'news' in this article. They're just making some changes to the existing S version stuff, and you could easily spin them as more positive than negative. Seems like paranoia to me.

Member

Like DLC, the Windows store will only succeed if consumers basically do like that gif where the guy sitting at the computer rolls his eyes, and starts fapping anyway "The **** I have to put up with" or something like that.

I never had a problem with EE being the default internet browser. If Google, etc didn't like it, they could make their own OS. Valve tried, but we see how hard it is to do. Linux too.

Member

Linux could easily be viable though. All the middle ware engines support it. It’s super easy to port c/c++ OpenGL/Vulkan.

If there’s a real need for pc gaming to move to Linux it would happen very quickly. It may take a year or two for the game development environment to evolve to where it is now in windows but it would happen.

Member

I have a gaming rig that runs 10 (for games w/o Linux support), but I primarily use Linux for all non-gaming uses and game as much as possible on the OS as well. If people are really worried about this, they need to support Linux as much as they are able - in terms of usage.

For my money, it's a far better experience anyway. There may be a slight learning curve in adapting it to everyday use, but it's well worth acclimating to in both the short and the long-term. And there are plenty of distros that are newbie friendly. No reason to be scared.

Member

Not on the desktop. Microsoft has a significant monopolistic position on desktop computers. Which is why they get into regulatory issues when trying to leverage that monopoly to other areas and Apple, for instance, doesn't.

The desktop is dying outside of the enterprise. Nobody worries about Microsoft's desktop monopoly any more because fewer and fewer people are tying themselves to one. Microsoft hasn't been in trouble for their business practices in a long time. The old arguments about how Microsoft owns everything and beat people over the head with it don't work any more.

Gamers complaining about Windows is funny because it's gamers who are chaining themselves to it. They don't mind a single marketplace for all of their stuff (Steam) they just don't want Microsoft to deliver it. Fickle bunch we are.

Member

The desktop is dying outside of the enterprise. Nobody worries about Microsoft's desktop monopoly any more because fewer and fewer people are tying themselves to one. Microsoft hasn't been in trouble for their business practices in a long time. The old arguments about how Microsoft owns everything and beat people over the head with it don't work any more.

Gamers complaining about Windows is funny because it's gamers who are chaining themselves to it. They don't mind a single marketplace for all of their stuff (Steam) they just don't want Microsoft to deliver it. Fickle bunch we are.

Agreed. Closed wall gardens are going to happen anyway, through IOS or Android/Chrome OS or Windows 10 S. It doesn't matter, the inevitable fact that majority of people can't handle is that Steam will fall into irrelevancy long term for a vast majority of people.

Member

Gamers complaining about Windows is funny because it's gamers who are chaining themselves to it. They don't mind a single marketplace for all of their stuff (Steam) they just don't want Microsoft to deliver it. Fickle bunch we are.

Member

If you can't see that Microsoft is cowardly and slyly trying to turn Windows into a closed ecosystem I don't know what to tell you. Every year it gets worse, these fuckers are smart, they know that people would be fucking furious if the made any sudden decisions so they're trying to lure new customers into a closed ecosystem and when after years they have enough suckers there then they'll make their final move.

Member

Yes for Safari on iOS. "Android" is complicated because thanks to the Nexus line dying, 99% of people are not using "stock Android" anyway. Chrome could be replaced with a home grown browser, or Firefox, or MS could get OEMs to install Edge once it is out of beta (Samsung phones have already had stuff like OneNote and Onedrive pre-installed). iOs is a little unique in this regard - everything else actually lets you change the default browser, even Windows 10 (not sure about 10S "mode"... have no reason to touch it).

I don't think most people are using the Windows Store for third party applications. The most popular stuff like Chrome, Twitch and iTunes are not in there. Most people use it to update pre-installed applications that they have no need of replacing (calculator and such). None of this "monopoly" stuff works without the applications people want to use.